Fishing Licenses and Regulations When you Move to BC

What to know about fishinglicensesandregulations if you move to British Columbia

If you’ve moved to British Columbia from another Canadian province or country, and if you love fishing, there are some things to consider about your new life as a recreational fisherman in BC’s waters. Rules can be different than where you’re from. In this article, our Metro Vancouver movers, who have moved families to and from cities in B.C., will explain a few guidelines on exploring fishinglicensesandregulations in this province.

Fishing in BC freshwater is not the same as fishing in saltwater; moving to B.C. means two separate fishinglicenses

Some bodies of water are regulated provincially, while others are regulated federally. This is important to know for BC because the province sits on the Pacific Coast. If you have traditionally fished in the Interior or the Prairies, this may be new for you upon moving to BC – having to obtain two separate license for the type of fishingyou want to do.

Before or after youmove to BC, you’ll need to view the rules for federal fishing licenses for tidal waters. Here is a link that may help:

For the Federal system, it’s also important to note that Canada participates in international treaties and national laws that regulate fish species. For this reason, when you catch fish in Canadian tidal waters off the coast of B.C., you’ll need to be aware of some changing regulationsand programs over time.

For example, there are certain endangered species of fishyou can not catch and keep. There are also special rules for your license to be able to obtain salmon. Since salmon live in both salt and freshwater, they are governed by Fisheries and Oceans Canada – even in provincial lakes. So if you are fishing for salmon in provincially-regulated freshwater, you need to be aware of federal restrictions. Remember you have moved to B.C., but you are still in Canada, where national laws can apply.

Moving to BC will be expensive enough – don’t add a fishing violation fine to that, just because of ignorance! Take time to do your research and keep up to date with notices.

For fishing in B.C.-regulated waters, you’ll need a provincial fishing license. This can be an electronic license bought online, or you can buy one at a vendor. You will get an Angler number which you need to keep handy to renew your license starting in March (licenses are seasonal!). Here is a website with more information:

In the provincial jurisdiction, there are also fishing rules and laws to follow. Some are for everyone’s benefit, such as shellfish notices that warn fishers of toxicity levels in species that can be harmful.

You’ll also need to be aware of rules that require you to pack fishyou’ve caught in a certain way, so that they can be inspected. This is because there is a minimum size of the catch you can bring home.

Depending on where you’ve moved to in B.C., you’ll want to be familiar with the regions that are determined for fishinglicensesandregulations. Here is a handy guide on the division of fishing regions in B.C.:

After moving to B.C., check on fishing quotas before you embark on a fishing adventure

There are also limits on how much fish you can catch as a recreational fisher. Sport fishing is not discouraged in B.C. – in fact it’s part of the reason people love coming to the province. However, to preserve species and prevent over fishing, the governments in charge of these waters impose limits. Here is a guide that helps you determine if what you’re catching is within those limits:

Whenyoumove to BC, register your boat before you use it for fishing

If you’re a seasoned recreational fisher, you may have a powered boat for your fishing excursions or otherwise. The boat is required to be registered through Transport Canada. There are also boating restrictions, as well as safety guidelines to be aware of.You also will need to pay attention to regulations for boaters that prevent invasive species.

Moving to British Columbia might make a talented sport fisher out of you

We’ve covered some of the guidelines when it comes to fishingregulationsandlicenses you need to know about before moving to BC. But don’t let the many rules deter you from having fun fishing. As they say, ‘a bad day of fishing is better than a good day at work’.